JUL 10, 2012

Today each nagare presented itself with their own Kazariyama and carries its float through its own area. There are currently 7: the Nakasu nagare, Higashi nagare, Daikoku nagare, Ebisu nagare, Doi nagare, Chiyo nagare and the Nishi nagare. Each of them has their own methods and traditions.

Today, we are in the Chiyo and Higashi nagare.

1.stop Chiyo nagare

Our first stop is near ishido bashi, in a small street. We meet some people again as the days before. I am curious, because my manager said, today it will be very sporty!

We take pictures and it takes not long and some men running frantically towards us. They drive us away the road and we jump to the side. They start to sing and swing the float rhythmical - and actually, they start to run with full speed through the small street and we also start to run. It's really warm today. We take an abbreviation through the supermarket and run through aisles, sweating, to reach the next location. We are there before the Yamakasa members will arrive and we are able to make pictures. All are running, the viewers, the camera people, the photographers, we...

2. stop Higashi nagare

Higashi nagare is just around the corner of our office. Our chief is also there. I see him, sitting with two other Daiagaris on the Kakiyama. This race takes about 60 minutes, beginning at 6 o´clock and leads through one of the oldest roads of Higashi nagare - the fugen-do dorō.

In the meantime I meet two really nice Japanese...

We are looking for a good place to make pictures. In the maintime, a lot of people have come and standing on the road sides. It is difficult to make pictures...

Each time it is very excitend!